The virus has killed 17 wild birds in Weymouth, Dorset, in the first outbreak of the winter.

Now the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) fears it will spread.

The discovery has been made in 17 wild birds that have died in the seaside town in recent days.

It comes weeks after experts warned cases of a strain of bird flu with pandemic potential had soared in China.

The strain, H7N9, spiked in humans and killed 281 people in 2017, while leaving hundreds more bedridden in hospital.

Fortunately the strain that has arrived in Britain is different.

Although it poses a “very low” risk to the public, according to Public Health England, the World Health Organisation says “human infection cannot be excluded”.

The virus, which is closely related to the H5N6 strain spreading throughout Europe, is also not a food safety risk.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: “This is the first time avian flu has been identified in the UK this winter and while the disease does not represent a threat to the public, it is highly infectious and deadly to birds.

“As the virus has been circulating across Europe, this finding has not come as a surprise.

“But it is vital that anyone who keeps birds – whether a few in a back garden or thousands on a farm – is vigilant for any signs of disease, reports suspect disease to APHA and maintains good biosecurity to reduce the risk of their birds becoming infected.”